Georgia Tech WBB Signs One Of The Big Ten's Top Rebounders

Georgia Tech head coach Karen Blair continues to build out an impressive roster heading into her second season as the head coach. Today, the Yellow Jackets announced the signing of Antonia Bates, a former Rutgers forward who was one of the best rebounders in the Big Ten.

How does she fit the roster?

The Scarlett Knights’ leading rebounder last season, Bates made 44 starts in four seasons in New Jersey, including starting each of the final 12 games of the 2025-26 campaign. She led Rutgers in rebounding 11 times as a senior while being the only player on the team to crack triple digits in defensive rebounds (102). She was second on the team in assists (56).

She started all five games played in her junior season and 25 of 30 as a sophomore. In 2023-24, she finished second on the team in average minutes and ranked third in the Big Ten with 46 blocks. She was also top 15 in the conference with 95 assists that season. As a freshman in 2022-23, Bates saw action in all 32 games while leading Rutgers in blocks (30 – ninth in the Big Ten) and third on the team in made three’s (18).

Bates arrives on The Flats with 183 career assists, 91 steals and 96 blocks in 96 games played.

Prior to her time at Rutgers, she played for Notre Dame High School and competed at Rutgers Prep in her final year. She averaged 12.4 points per game in her final season at Notre Dame while leading the Crusaders to their first state semifinal. In 2020-21, she was named Class 3A All-State Second Team. Bates also played AAU ball with the New Jersey Sparks and rose to the 40th-ranked guard in her class according to ESPNW.

“I’m incredibly grateful to our Georgia Tech women’s basketball staff for a season defined by rewarding hard work and a shared commitment to excellence,” Blair added. “They’ve done a tremendous job assembling a strong portal class with five signees to complement our seven returning veterans and an exciting freshman. This group really addresses our needs, bringing depth at every position along with versatility on both ends of the floor. What stands out most is their humble, hungry mindset and dedication to competitive excellence. There’s a lot to be excited about as we look ahead to the 2026–27 season.”

Bates’ signing wraps up a successful offseason for the Jackets that featured the additions of Autumn Washington (freshman), Sofia Muñoz (UAB), Jordan Ode (Michigan State), Kyndal Walker (Maryland) and Penda Dieng (Xavier).

Those additions solidify a 2026-27 Georgia Tech women’s basketball team that is returning four of its primary starting five from a season ago, the first under Blair. Tech finished with 10 victories inside McCamish Pavilion en route to a berth in the 2026 WBIT.

With this roster now complete, will Blair get the Yellow Jackets back to the NCAA Tournament next season?

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